Crisis team being sent out? Do I cancel?! Seems OTT

[Nobhobs]

I'm a new mum and have been struggling with anxiety quite badly, I used to suffer from panic attacks and it's all come back post partum. I've been struggling and did well on citalopram in the past so went to my GP to see about going back on it. She wrote and prescription and asked if I wanted her to arrange counselling. I agreed.

I've just had a call from the mental health crisis team saying they'll be out to my address first thing tomorrow. They kept asking whether I'll definitely be ok until then. After we got off the phone I googled what crisis team is and it all seemed to be for people who are suicidal and putting themselves or others at risks, not really for anxiety? It all just seems an over reaction and it's making me even more anxious thinking of a crisis team turning up at my door. Has anyone else had this happen?

Hi OP I know you ave cancelled and are on waiting list for CBT but just wanted to say as someone who suffers with anxiety too, that the crisis team can be there for those with extreme anxiety as well.

They have come out to me in the past when I have been particularly anxious and they are amazingly supportive. I have has social services phone me a few times but they only phone to ensure I have the support I need and once they hear how I do they leave me to it - I've been reassured by them that they are there to help ensure I get the right support rather than because they want to take my toddler away.

I hope the CBT helps you, do not be disheartened if it is not for you (it doesnt help me) - there are loads of options out there for help with managing anxiety. I have come to learn that anti-psychosis medication and exercise are best for me.

Seconding @TwittleBee - I had very bad PNA/PND, and had the crisis team visit in the first few weeks. It was helpful at first as I needed the extra support.

But I ended up telling them not to bother anymore as I found their visits always seemed to coincide with when I needed to express or feed or when I'd finally got DS to sleep and wanted to nap myself.

Ohdeari please don’t scaremonger vulnerable people into cancelling mental health appointments. Whether you had a bad experience or not there were better ways of wording that

I'm glad it's all sorted but really, had they come round there would have been no problem, they'd have reported back to your GP who would then have realised the mistake and rectified it. It's a relief for you though.

I hope all goes well with the CBT. Be warned, it sometimes isn't suitable and a different type of counselling/therapy recommended. That's no reflection on the client/patient or the therapist; he or she will have been trained to recognise when their type of therapy is not appropriate for a particular person which is good.

A bit extreme on part of GP to do it without telling you - I think that's a major fuck up on the part of the GP and I am a bit confused how on one hand people are saying oh don't worry the lovely Crisis Team will just ask a lot of intrusive questions, and then on the other saying if you cancel it you'll be referred to social services.

I'd say that's quite a serious mistake from the GP then. I think the OP sounds like she has a handle on it and is seeking help.

Op
You must work with them ,or it looks bad .
Go back to your gp .talk to him ,ask him why he called them.
If he still thinks you need them ,let them come .
They are so busy that they will soon realise if you don’t need them .
Your vulnerable with a new baby to care for ,they are just doing their job.

Well done for querying it with them and flagging it up for the right department to contact you. Also bet they're relieved too, otherwise they would've had a wasted visit.

Jeez I'd be terrified. Glad it was a mistake.

The crisis team were fantastic for me. I think it's a real shame you've been put off seeing them as in my experience they're a wonderful resource and can't do enough to help. They saved my life when I had PND.

I hope you get the support you need and are feeling better soon.

Basically, they're my worst nightmare.
Did you reschedule? As they'll keep hounding you otherwise as you've a baby.

@OhDeari, how did you think this would be helpful? Not trying to put the OP off? Yeah , right. You mght just have prevented OP - and other people reading the thread - accessing MH services when they need them!

Honestly, MH services can't do anything right. Either people are complaining because waiting lists are too long or they're complaining because they want to intervene too quickly.

OP, glad you have it sorted. Hope you don't have too long to wait for CBT. Meantime, check out Headspace or other similar apps and practise self care: eat healthily, see friends, do things you enjoy, get plenty of fresh air, practise mindfulness or meditation. Don't just wait for CBT to happen.

Jeez I'd be terrified. Glad it was a mistake.

Why on earth, @IsItChristmas?

Glad you have sorted it OP, hope you are feeilng better soon.

And having the crisis team involved absolutely isn’t the same as having social services involvement.

@Nobhobs
I was visited by a mh crisis team a few months ago, a triage one as I had intended to kill myself. There was a psychiatrist, a nurse and a paramedic. There was absolutely no talk of taking away my two small children or involving social services. It wasn't intimidating or an interrogation and my house was a tip. I know all experiences will be different but getting help for any mental health problems is difficult, especially when we have to arrange childcare or cart dc along to appointments.

PPs doing their best to scare people away from these services is not helpful.

My son went through a bad patch in his twenties and they used to come out and see him. Don't worry they just want to check where you're at and see if they can help.

As a general thought, I would encourage anyone reading this to accept any MH appointments that are offered.

Please do not be put off seeking or accepting help due to one poster's very careless (at best) comments.

It is SO important that people know that they can access mental health services without fear.

I finally took the first step in seeking help for something I am struggling with. I had my initial assessment with my local CAMHS this morning. I wondered about cancelling it but I am so glad I went to the appointment. There will be a wait until I can see a psychologist now but in the meantime I've been signposted to a really helpful programme to keep me going until then.

I was asked how my issues impact on me caring for DD and when I explained that there was no direct impact on her, that was that.

I know this isn’t now relevant to OP but in case it comes up in google searches:

I’m going through this at the moment - I was told to be honest with the specialist MH perinatal team where I was referred while suffering from severe postnatal anxiety. As a result my family are now the subject of a (completely unjustified) serious safeguarding investigation, which every professional I’ve met says is unnecessary but is now impossible to stop.

So please while I agree engaging with help is important, do keep a level of skepticism and make sure there’s absolutely no room for misunderstanding or grey areas when they ask about risks you may pose to DC, however upset you may be.

Why is the OP being told to ask for the appointment to be reinstated? She's not in crisis, she just wanted some support; she's not suicidal.

Two posters here have said that involvement with them might not end well but if the OP really was suicidal then of course it might be worth going through the process.

Go back to your gp .talk to him ,ask him why he called them - maybe only just to confirm his/her mistake!

If the OP had wrongly been sent to have an operation she doesn't need would posters are saying you may as well have it anyway, just because the GP made a mistake?!

Fortheloveofscience

Sorry to hear that. Unfortunately I think your experience is possibly far more typical than posters would like to acknowledge.

@bookwormsforever because a visit like this assumes that something terribly wrong is happening and if I don't even know what it is - isn't it terrifying?!

Agree with @Fortheloveofscience - it's one thing if help is required, and quite a different thing if it's not.

I said the worst things you could imagine to my crisis team. My HV contacted Social Services (with my knowledge). At first I wasn't allowed to be alone with my baby which, given I was actively suicidal, seemed proportionate to me. They visited me once, then spoke to me on the phone a few more times, working in liaison with my HV and the crisis team. They discharged me pretty quickly as my mental health started to improve. There was NO talk of removing my DD, ever, they didn't "inspect" my house, they weren't aggressive, they provided practical help and resources and I never once felt threatened or at risk.

I appreciate that not everyone has a positive experience with Social Services. But imo, fear of Social Services is a bad reason not to seek help.

because a visit like this assumes that something terribly wrong is happening and if I don't even know what it is - isn't it terrifying?!

@IsItChristmas - No, it's a simple mistake. If you had nothing to worry about, why be terrified?

I wouldn't of cancelled the appointments based on any posters comments had I been in crisis, but the crisis team are for people in far worse situations than mine and it would of been a waste of their resources. Anxiety is crap but it's not at a debilitating level, I'm not suicidal by any means and am no risk to myself or DS. I'm absolutely fine on a waiting list for CBT. Finding out what the appointment consisted of, and the severity that it can go to was a good thing as now they won't be busy dealing with me and will be available to help people who are actually in a crisis.
If anyone reads this thread who is genuinely in crisis and feels the needs for these services then don't be put off, but I'm glad I didn't go along with this appointment unnecessarily.
Thanks again for all the input x

I came on to say I thought there must have been a mix up -
We can’t get the crisis team out for love nor money when people have been really poorly! (Social worker here!)

Please please don’t worry OP. I hope you feel better soon.